Day 83 - Maintenance Chemotherapy Administration Month 1 Week 1 December 5 2011

After my blood  values were back, we were escorted to the infusion center. I was weighed and measured for height. My weight has crept up to 151 pounds (but, I did have heavier clothing on since it was only 10 degrees outside) and my height is steady at 5' 2 1/4 ".


We waited in the recliner area for the nurse to hang the Decadron and Normal Saline which was scheduled to run over 15 minutes.

Then, I should have gotten my quick intravenous push Velcade (1.7 mg dose based on 1mg/metered squared), but I asked if they were going to give me Aloxi (long acting intravenous anti-nausea medication) along with my Velcade. That question really delayed things since they do not pre-mediate with ANY anti-nausea medication for Velcade/Decadron. When I was receiving my induction chemotherapy from Dr. Moore at Front Range Cancer Center in Ft. Collins, Colorado, it was their protocol to always give the Aloxi with the Velcade/Decadron, so that is what I was used to.


The nurse explained that my insurance might not pay for the Aloxi, but I told her they paid for it in Ft. Collins. They offered me Kytril (anti-nausea) or Zofran (anti-nausea) and then went on to explain that patients receiving Velcade/Decadron do no need ANY anti-nausea medication. So, I decided to fore go the medications for anti-nausea, but they did send me home with Zofran tablet if I started to feel badly on our long drive back to Greeley, Colorado in rush hour traffic. More later on if my decision to go without anti-nausea medication was good idea or no.

My wonderful caregiver sister had a bit of a melt-down on Day 83. What should have taken 1 1/2 hours took 3 hours and then add the 1.25 hour drive each way and we were pretty much gone all afternoon into the evening. Good thing Jani wasn't wearing a mask like I had to for all that time - or, I think she would have gone ballistic.

Our drive home was a chilly one - temperature dipped to Minus 1, but was mostly 2 above as we drove from Aurora, Colorado to Greeley, Colorado.

Day 23 - Update - October 6 2011

I'm sleeping pretty well. However, I'm still plagued with constant nausea - nothing seems to help, although I do feel a tad better after I've eaten something. Eating every 2 to 3 hours. Jani is making potato soup today. I broke down and took 1/2 of a Zofran  - that didn't help either.

Jani and I walked the dogs 0.38 miles in 10 minutes. It was windy and chilly, so I look like some kind of alien.

jm walking in Greeley, October 6 2011

I walked around inside the house for 10 consecutive minutes because it was blowing a gale outside. I'm going to try and do that one more time this evening. My legs still feel like rubber.

Day 3 - Stem Cell Transplant PM Update September 16 2011

Much better control of my nausea with Ativan 1/2 dose and scheduled Zofran. Plus, I have maintenance fluids running intravenously at 125 cc hour which I think really helps me.

Jani came and stayed all afternoon in to the evening with me. She put her organizational gene to good use and rearranged my entire room. I don't know what they were thinking when they built this hospital for patients who would have LONG stays - because there aren't any good places to store anything. Jani brought all of my stuff in big see through plastic bins that she stacks. Jani brought me cold cereal and Silk Milk (I have a lactose intolerance) and that seems to work in my not-so-right stomach for now.  I love my sister~

I walked with Jani in the hallway before she left. We are missing my Transplant Coordinator, Dana Godec, RN who has been out sick since the 9th of September. Wishing her the best.

Walked 2.10 miles - September 10 2011

Walked 2.10 miles with Jani and the dogs despite ACID STOMACH secondary to Velcade/Decadron yesterday and 20 mg of oral Dexamethasone this morning. Glad I have Zofran on hand - really helps.

Nausea Day 4 of VDT-PACE August 27 2011

I've been pretty nauseated all day today. Haven't really wanted to eat or drink, but have made myself do both. I didn't do the treadmill today, but I did walk in the hallway twice -  up and down, up and down.
I asked for a Zofran anti-nausea pill this afternoon (I had one at 9 AM) and found that the order was for every 12 hours, so I asked Nurse Jamie to try to get it sooner. She was able to reschedule it and after I got another Zofran at around 4 PM, I was feeling a lot less nauseated. I ate a 1/2 of baked potato for dinner. This nausea is probably going to be an ongoing thing even after they stop the chemotherapty tonight at 10 or 10:15 PM.

The nurse printed out a copy of neutropenic (when your white blood cell count is low) diet rules and I read through all of the pages - more later on that.

Hospitalization August 26 to August 27 2011

I had a pretty good night August 26 in to August 27 2011. I continue nauseated 3 to 4 on the 1-10 scale. However, they gave me Ativan and Zofran and I was able to sleep. I took a whole Percocet for creepy legs and back pain between my scapula at midnight or so.

Aide Steph weighed me this morning and I'm still 153 pounds even after the 40 mg Lasix IV last night. I was 147 pounds on admission, but they didn't have it recorded in their computer.